[cgiapp] [OT] Searching for a db of American Localities and Postcodes

[fREW Schmidt]

On Thu, Jul 9, 2009 at 9:14 PM, Mark Fuller <azfuller at gmail.com> wrote:

> On Thu, Jul 9, 2009 at 6:07 PM, Ron Savage<ron at savage.net.au> wrote:
> > However, in a module I'm about to release, I can't ship their database.
>
> Shouldn't the data be Public Domain? For one thing it is merely a
> collection of facts. In the US a collection can be copyrighted to the
> extent that it includes some kind of creative expression. (Ex. the
> telephone White Pages can't be copyrighted. Too factual. Yellow Pages
> can because of the choice of categories, and assigning businesses to
> categories).
>
> A collection of all zip codes in the US seems to be equally
> embellished as white pages.
>
> Also, I thought in the US a government agency's published works are
> automatically PD. Zip codes originate from the US Postal Service.
>
> So, it seems like a private company compiled all the PD zip codes and
> calls it protected expression?
>
> AFAIK, the only thing that would be protected is the *format* they
> store it in. Such as a database. But, the raw data remains PD.
>
> That was my understanding a decade ago. Maybe something has changed.



 Our company pays for a database of US Zipcodes.  You may be able to make
your own DB of it with WWW::Mechanize scraping, but the DB is something like
100$ for the latest version.  So it's really not even that expensive for an
individual to purchase.  I can get you details tomorrow if you are still
interested.


-- 
fREW Schmidt
http://blog.afoolishmanifesto.com